Pooja Kushalappa

Director of Engineering

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India17 yrs 9 mos experience

Highly StableAI Enabled

Key Highlights

18+ years in engineering leadership roles.
Expert in building scalable platforms and teams.
Proven track record in AI and data-driven solutions.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Fintech and E-commerce engineering leader with expertise in AI and platform development.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Engineering ManagementPlatform DevelopmentSearch EngineeringE-commerce StrategyData ScienceAgile ManagementTeam LeadershipApi DevelopmentVoice TechnologyNatural Language ProcessingMobile DevelopmentProject ManagementSoftware DevelopmentMultimedia ApplicationsComputer Vision

Other Skills

AgileAgile MethodologiesAgile practicesAndroidAndroid developmentArtificial Intelligence (AI)CC algorithm developmentC++Embedded SoftwareEmbedded SystemsGoLeadershipML platformsManagement

About

I’m passionate about building high-leverage platforms that help teams move faster, safer, and smarter. With 18+ years in engineering, I’ve led large-scale, high-impact teams at the intersection of infrastructure, data, developer productivity, and AI. Currently, I head the Central Platforms org at Super.money, a Flipkart-backed fintech venture, where we’re laying the foundational systems, data, and ML platforms to power the next generation of financial products in India. Previously at Flipkart, I led Search and CSE Gen AI teams, driving initiatives in semantic search, low-latency information retrieval, personalization, and GenAI-powered customer experiences. I’ve built and scaled 100+ member orgs, launched zero-to-one platforms, and delivered measurable business impact across GMV, latency, and experimentation. What I love: - Building platforms that scale engineering excellence - Bridging technical depth with business outcomes - Leading with clarity, empathy, and momentum - Coaching the next generation of builders and leaders I thrive in environments where ambition meets craft — where we’re not just shipping code, but shaping systems that matter.

Experience

17 yrs 9 mos

Total Experience

4 yrs 2 mos

Average Tenure

11 mos

Current Experience

Super.money

Director of Engineering

Jun 2025 – Present · 11 mos · On-site

I lead the Central Platforms org at Super.money, a new-age fintech venture by Flipkart, focused on building the foundational systems, data, and ML platforms that power our engineering and product ecosystem.
Our mission is to empower teams to build boldly and operate confidently. We’re creating a high-leverage platform that enables rapid development, operational excellence, and intelligent decision-making — laying the groundwork for Super.money to scale with speed, stability, and insight.
It’s a unique opportunity to shape the platform DNA of a company that’s reimagining how millions of Indians interact with their financial lives.

ML platformsdata systemsengineering excellenceEngineering ManagementPlatform Development

Flipkart

3 roles

Director of Engineering

Promoted

Aug 2023 – Jun 2025 · 1 yr 10 mos

Leading strategic initiatives across Search—Auto Suggestions, Query Understanding, Ranking, Infrastructure, and Experiences at Flipkart.
Implemented innovative solutions to enhance e-commerce excellence and drive synergies within the team.
Achieved significant improvements in search functionality resulting in increased user engagement and revenue growth.

Search functionalitye-commerce excellenceuser engagementSearch EngineeringE-commerce Strategy

Senior Engineering Manager

Mar 2021 – Aug 2023 · 2 yrs 5 mos

Leading Experience, Infra and Query Understanding team within Search, focussing on
Driving technical roadmap, planning, prioritisation, and execution of engineering and data science solutions.
Stakeholder management and close product partnership.
Hiring, career development, mentoring, and performance development.
Focus on team culture and fostering self-sustained, high-performing teams.
Cross-team collaboration and working with multiple teams across FK.

Technical roadmapdata science solutionsstakeholder managementEngineering ManagementData Science

Engineering Manager

Aug 2019 – Mar 2021 · 1 yr 7 mos

Managing Search Query Understanding modules and key responsibilities include:
Technical Roadmap, architecture, and execution of engineering and data science solutions.
Team building, upskilling, mentoring, and hiring.
Stakeholder management and cross-team collaboration
Introduction of agile practices.

Agile practicesteam buildingcross-team collaborationAgile ManagementTeam Leadership

I.am+

3 roles

Engineering Manager

Promoted

Jan 2017 – Jul 2019 · 2 yrs 6 mos

Driving and managing:
Gateway to Omega for enabling apps and third-party integrations using RESTful API.
Omega Proactive notification system to keep users engaged with personalized curated content.
Omega Reservation system: Personal assistant for automated voice driven restaurant - booking, which involves calling the restaurant and assistant having a conversation with call receiver to book a table. Work involved building VOIP and NLU solution as well as integrating ASR and TTS modules.
Skills to enhance Omega experience: Weather, Business search and info, Playlist importer.
Smart speaker: Built on Omega platform (HTTP/2 streaming server, Go client using cgo bindings)
Team management: Requirement gathering, System architecture and high level design,
Work estimation, Product road-map and Task assignment using Agile practices.
Team building: Staffing and on-boarding, continuous feedback, goal setting and career planning.
Training team on new skills : Golang, Collaboration tools, TDD, Kubernetes

RESTful APINLU solutionsteam managementAPI DevelopmentVoice Technology

Sr Technical Lead

Oct 2015 – Dec 2016 · 1 yr 2 mos

Key responsibilities included:
Involved in Design and Implementation of Omega, in-house cloud based voice assistant.
NLU framework (entity resolution, intent, dialog , user and context management).
Integration with NLP models.
REST interface design for NLU interactions.
Skill development to support entity and intent resolution.
Leading teams spread across iam+ offices located in LA, Singapore and Bangalore.
Closely working and integrating modules from vendors (Nuance, API.AI) on i.am+ wearable, dial.
Working with product management teams for requirements and planning.
Scrum Lead and distribution of work among peers.
Platform/ Languages: Android, Python
Tools: JIRA, Confluence

NLU frameworkNLP modelsScrum leadershipNatural Language ProcessingTeam Leadership

Technical Lead

Sep 2013 – Sep 2015 · 2 yrs

Framework and application for integrating Nuance voice solutions on i.am+ wearable, puls.
Application development of skills for Image Gallery and Accessibility for wearable device.
Requirements gathering, system architecture and vendor management.
Interaction with other module owners for integration, SPOC for vendor modules.
Work distribution among peers along with code reviews (Github) and mentoring.
Platform: Android

Android developmentsystem architecturevendor managementMobile DevelopmentProject Management

Nokia

2 roles

Consultant

Jul 2012 – Oct 2012 · 3 mos · Bangalore

Application to showcase proprietary refocus and depth algorithm of Nokia Research Center, Multimedia.
Interface to native c algorithm.
WP7/WP8 development.

C algorithm developmentWP7/WP8 developmentSoftware DevelopmentMultimedia Applications

Senior Engineer

Mar 2010 – Sep 2011 · 1 yr 6 mos · Bangalore

Framework and application development showcasing in-house face tracking and recognition algorithms. Tasks included requirement gathering, design and work distribution for implementation
Location based image grouping application (onsite at Nokia Berlin)
Language: Qt

Qt developmentimage processingSoftware DevelopmentComputer Vision

Aricent

Senior Engineer

Jul 2006 – Feb 2010 · 3 yrs 7 mos · Bangalore

Development of multimedia plugins (audio, video and image) on Symbian and Meego for Nokia and Samsung devices.
Video stabilization, image processing algorithm integration and interface design.
Part of team responsible for deploying first HD solutions on TI OMAP (720p video recording)
Technical guidance to software developers.
Task analysis and work distribution among the team.
Technology: Symbian MDF and GStreamer.

multimedia pluginsimage processing algorithmsSoftware DevelopmentMultimedia Applications